Basic concepts in nocturia, based on international continence society standards in nocturnal lower urinary tract function.

AIMS: To review the recommendations on nocturia in the International Continence Society (ICS) Standardization documents, setting out key definitions and parameters for use in clinical practice.

METHODS

Definitions and evaluations described in the ICS Standards on Nocturia and Terminology for Lower Urinary Tract Function were identified and summarized.

RESULTS

The terms have been divided into signs and symptoms. Nocturia as a symptom is waking at night to pass urine and as a sign is the number of times an individual passes urine during their main sleep period. Nocturnal polyuria as a symptom is passing large volumes of urine at night and as a sign is the excessive production of urine during the individual's main sleep period. These should be quantified using a 3-day bladder diary, thereby facilitating identification of 24-h polyuria, nocturnal polyuria, lower urinary tract dysfunction, or sleep disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

The summary reflects the multifactorial influences in nocturia and provides a pragmatic insight into bladder diary analysis for deriving key parameters relevant to clinical therapy.